A bogus driving instructor who made thousands of pounds illegally teaching people to drive has avoided a prison sentence, a court has heard.

IPSWICH: A bogus driving instructor who made thousands of pounds illegally teaching people to drive has avoided a prison sentence, a court has heard.

Susan Wilson, of Pembroke Avenue, Woodbridge pleaded guilty to five offences of fraud by misrepresentation, including fraud in obtaining her insurance policy at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on Friday.

The 49-year-old made around �3,000 conning at least three learners into believing she was an approved driving instructor (ADI).

Magistrates sentenced her to 12 weeks in prison suspended for two years and ordered she pay �85 costs and a total of �617.50 in compensation. She was banned from teaching driving and applying to become a driving instructor for two years.

Suspicions were raised by Driving Standards Agency (DSA) staff at Ipswich Driving Test Centre in September 2008.

Wilson had been a trainee ADI but her trainee licence had expired after she failed to meet the standard of instruction required.

She was arrested in June after it was discovered she had continued to teach illegally, fraudulently taking out an insurance policy under the pretence of being fully qualified.

Defending his client Ian Duckworth said the four people dealt with in the court case all passed their driving tests after being taught by Wilson, at the same time accepting she should not have been providing lessons.

The DSA today issued a stark warning to bogus driving instructors flouting the law by illegally teaching learner drivers.

The DSA registrar of driving instructors, Charles Morton, said: “Our message is clear: if you are not an ADI or a Trainee Licence holder and teach for money or monies worth, you can expect to face ever-increasing penalties.

“Susan Wilson was assessed by us to ensure that she was able to provide driving instruction to required standard and when she failed that assessment she continued to operate illegally.”

Ensure there is an in-date pink or green badge in their windscreen.

Check the photo on the badge matches the person providing the lesson.

A pink badge indicates the instructor is a trainee, entitled to give paid lesions whilst acquiring their practical experience.

A green badge indicates the instructor is listed on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors, and they are fully qualified and subject to regular checks by the DSA to ensure their continued competence.

If you have any doubts about whether your driving instructor is teaching you legally, call DSA on: 02920 581155.